Press Releases
Sen. Warner to Introduce Bill Eliminating Outdated & Duplicative Agency Reports
~ OMB identifies 379 outdated or duplicative federal reports for potential elimination ~
Jan 09 2013
“Over the years, federal agencies have been instructed to expend considerable staff time and other resources producing thousands of reports, yet we never look back to see if these reporting requirements might be outdated, duplicative, or even relevant. If these reports are sitting on a shelf collecting dust, then it’s time for them to go."
Senate passes Webb, Warner resolution to honor service of U.S.S. Enterprise
~ Honors more than 100,000 current and former sailors who have served on the Enterprise ~
Jan 03 2013
The Senate today unanimously approved a resolution offered by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) commemorating the deactivation of U.S.S. Enterprise after 51 years of service and honoring the more than 100,000 current and former sailors and Marines who served aboard the aircraft carrier.
Successful Warner Amendment Results in Congressional Passage of Toxic Drywall Legislation
Directs CPSC to set content, labeling standards, and ID
Jan 02 2013
WASHINGTON – Bipartisan congressional legislation to help prevent toxic drywall from entering U.S. consumer markets has been adopted and sent to the President for his signature. The legislation, The Drywall Safety Act of 2012 (HR 4212), was introduced by U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA-2nd) and adopted by the U.S. House last summer. An amendment offered by U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) resulted in Senate passage of the bill earlier this week, and the House endorsed the amended legislation last night on a 378-37 vote.
Statement of Sen. Mark Warner on fiscal cliff
Jan 01 2013
"The Senate has acted to avoid the immediate fiscal cliff, but this negotiated agreement does little to address our deficits and it does not raise enough revenue to put our country on a path to reduce our long-term debt.
In coming weeks, we still must reach agreement on steps to generate more revenues, make additional spending cuts, and strengthen and reform our entitlement programs so successful programs like Medicare and Social Security will still exist 30 years from now."
In coming weeks, we still must reach agreement on steps to generate more revenues, make additional spending cuts, and strengthen and reform our entitlement programs so successful programs like Medicare and Social Security will still exist 30 years from now."
"My thoughts are with the Sandy Hook Elementary School students, teachers, their families and the first-responders who are dealing with this horrific tragedy. Virginians know too well how devastating a trauma like this can be, and that recovering and moving forward will take time. We're praying for all those in Newtown and across Connecticut."
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner Welcomes OMB's Progress on Goals, Accountability and Transparency
~ Revamped performance.gov website provides more robust data on agency performance ~
Dec 14 2012
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement today after the Office of Management and Budget launched an improved performance.gov website, a key requirement of Senator Warner’s 2010 Government Performance and Results Modernization Act.
“Developing our offshore energy resources will help create domestic manufacturing jobs and strengthen Virginia’s economy. It also advances efforts to better harness renewable energy sources while reducing U.S. reliance on imported oil. I have been an advocate for an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach for some time now, and I think there’s a lot of potential in developing our offshore energy opportunities off the Virginia coast.”
I am saddened to hear that a Navy SEAL based in Virginia was killed during Sunday's successful rescue of an American doctor being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan. I join all Virginians in extending our condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Petty Officer First Class Nicolas Checque.
Virginia Representatives Jim Moran (VA-08), Frank Wolf (VA-10), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner sent a letter to the administrator of the General Services Administration urging consideration of Northern Virginia for the new FBI Headquarters location.
Sens. Webb, Warner Urge Enforcement of Trade Duties to Ensure Fair Competition for Virginia Furniture Makers
~ Millions of dollars in antidumping fines remain uncollected ~
Nov 28 2012
Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Richard Burr (R-NC), and Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Virginia Foxx (R-NC), sent a joint letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today urging immediate action to collect unpaid duties owed by importers of wooden bedroom furniture made in China.
Sen. Mark R. Warner co-sponsors FAST Voting Act
~Incentive grants for states to expedite voting, reducing lines and wait times~
Nov 15 2012
Sen. Mark R. Warner today joined Sen. Chris Coons (D-DEL) in introducing legislation today that will make voting faster and more accessible to all voters. The Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely (FAST) Voting Act of 2012 creates a competitive grant program to encourage states to aggressively pursue election reforms.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), co-chairs of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan India Caucus, introduced a resolution this week to honor and celebrate the festival of Diwali.
"This afternoon, I learned with regret about the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus. Director Petraeus served with distinction during a long career in the U.S. Army and at the Agency. As a member of the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence, I met with Director Petraeus regularly, and I was continually impressed with his professionalism, directness, and dedication to the men and women of the CIA."
Sen. Warner to host 3rd annual Va. Women's Conference
~ Connects women with expert advice on finance, healthcare, leadership, small business ~
Oct 10 2012
Senator Warner will host the third annual Virginia Women’s Conference on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 in Roanoke. The Conference will help to connect women from across Virginia with personal and professional growth and networking opportunities. The Conference will help to connect women from across Virginia with personal and professional growth and networking opportunities.
Chesapeake Bay Senators urge USDA to support farmers during lapse of Farm Bill authorization
~ Failure of the House of Representatives to Pass a Farm Bill Extension is Having Negative Consequences for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Farmers ~
Oct 03 2012
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White urging them to support Chesapeake Bay watershed farmers during the interim period since the lapse of the Farm Bill authorization.
Sens. Warner, Toomey Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Protections for Community Banks
~ Letter Signed by 53 Senators~
Sep 27 2012
Senators Warner (D-Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today led a bipartisan letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Acting Chairman Marty Gruenberg and Comptroller of the Currency Tom Curry urging financial regulators to consider the impact new Basel III capital standards would have on community banks.
Sen. Warner to host 2nd annual Va. Young Professionals Summit
~ YP2012 connects young Virginians with growth and networking opportunities ~ Features presentation by David Karp, founder of Tumblr ~
Sep 27 2012
Senator Warner will host the second annual Virginia Young Professionals Summit (YP2012) on Saturday, Sept. 29th in Richmond. YP2012 helps to connect young adults from across Virginia with professional growth and networking opportunities.
Sens. Warner & Portman introduce DATA Act
~ Expands transparency, accountability for federal agency spending ~ Allows taxpayers, policymakers to track spending at single website ~
Sep 21 2012
Senators Warner (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve and expand federal fiscal accountability. The legislation requires more standardized reporting of federal spending posted to a single website, allowing citizens and agencies to more easily identify improper payments, waste and fraud.
Legislation to improve federal gov't customer service passes House
Sets standards, monitors performance to improve customer service delivery
Sep 12 2012
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the bipartisan Government Customer Service Improvement Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX). The bipartisan legislation works to improve customer service delivery across federal agencies, and a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) in July
Concerned about steep increases in commodity prices, Senators Warner and Jim Webb (D-VA) joined a bipartisan letter this week to the Environmental Protection Agency in support of a temporary waiver of the federal ethanol mandate.
Sen. Warner leads bipartisan manufacturing jobs initiative
~ Job creation package includes Warner’s on-shoring proposal ~
Aug 02 2012
Senators Warner, Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase U.S. manufacturing, competiveness and export opportunities. The Building a Stronger America Act incorporates significant elements of Sen. Warner’s 2011 America Recruits legislation.
Warner, Portman, Collins Introduce Legislation to Provide Regulatory Relief
~Bill requires cost, benefit analysis by independent agencies~
Aug 01 2012
Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced bipartisan legislation to require independent agencies to analyze the costs and benefits of new regulations and tailor new rules to minimize unnecessary burdens on the economy. The bill adopts a key recommendation of the President’s Jobs Council.
Sen. Warner announces $815,000 rural jobs grants for Southwest Virginia
~ Competitive grant will support Friends of Southwest Virginia regional initiative ~
Aug 01 2012
Senator Warner today announced that Southwest Virginia’s ‘Round the Mountain (RTM) artisan network has been awarded a competitive grant of $815,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Sen. Warner Applauds NTSB Findings on Virginia Bus Accident
~Urges Swift DOT Implementation of Bus Safety Legislation Signed Into Law Earlier This Month~
Jul 31 2012
Senator Warner today applauded the release of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the May 31, 2011 bus accident that resulted in the death of four passengers in Caroline County, VA. The report includes several of the recommendations specifically addressed by motorcoach safety legislation co-sponsored by Senator Warner, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), and others that was included in the recently passed transportation funding bill.
Sens. Warner and Johnson Offer Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Federal Agency Customer Service
~ Directs OMB to develop improvement standards, create improvement ‘SWAT’ team ~
Jul 30 2012
Senator Warner and Ron Johnson (R-WI) introduced bipartisan legislation today to establish, monitor and improve customer service delivery across federal agencies.
